Data Analytics Engineering
The degree that turns raw data into your next move.
100% online, fully asynchronous, built for working professionals. The same Northeastern University College of Engineering credential. No commute, no prior tech background required.
Online MS in Data Analytics Engineering
from Northeastern University
The professionals who shape industries aren't always the ones who started in them. They're the ones who learned to turn raw data into decisions other people can act on. The Online Master of Science in Data Analytics Engineering (DAE) from Northeastern University's College of Engineering was built for exactly that kind of professional: someone with a career already in motion, ready to lead at the intersection of data and strategy.
The curriculum runs on Northeastern's commitment to experiential learning. Every course is built around real datasets and industry problems, taught by faculty who bring active practice into the classroom. You'll build fluency in Python, R, and SQL and depth in data visualization, database design, data mining, and predictive modeling. Not theory about what you'll eventually apply. Skills you can use at work on Wednesday that you learned on Tuesday. No prior tech background required. All academic majors welcome.
The Fast App pathway gets you from interested to enrolled in minutes. Because the obstacle to a graduate degree shouldn't be paperwork.
When you graduate, your diploma reads: Northeastern University, College of Engineering, Master of Science in Data Analytics Engineering. It won't say "online." You'll cross the same stage in Boston, earn the same credential, and carry the same institutional recognition as every Northeastern engineer before you.
Charged per course at enrollment. Take a term off without penalty. Full details and scholarship information at Tuition & payment details →.
Federal financial aid is available for Standard App students from day one, and for Fast App students after completing their two pathway courses. If federal aid is a priority from the start, the Standard App is the right path.
The pay-as-you-go structure makes it easy to align with most employer reimbursement cycles. Employer reimbursement toolkit →
Online learning at Northeastern isn't solitary. You'll join an active cohort of working professionals from across industries and time zones. People who bring real-world problems into every discussion and make the learning sharper as a result.
Every Northeastern Online student has access to the same career resources as on-campus students: the Northeastern Career Center, employer connections, job boards, and recruiting events. The Northeastern name opens the same doors, regardless of how you earned it.
Beyond career services, you have access to any Northeastern campus for studying, meetings, or events. Across the US. From Boston to Oakland, Miami to Silicon Valley. And a dedicated online success team is with you for the full length of your program, making sure you always know your next step.
*From $23,124 / $723 per credit with automatically applied scholarships, depending on admissions pathway. Pay-as-you-go, charged per course at enrollment — take a term off without penalty. Full details and scholarship information at Tuition & payment details →.
Your diploma reads: Northeastern University, College of Engineering, Master of Science in Data Analytics Engineering. No reference to online.
Where DAE graduates go next.
Data isn't a department anymore — it's the layer every serious organization runs on. The professionals who can turn raw data into decisions are the ones companies compete for. Data Analytics Engineering graduates move into roles at exactly that intersection: Data Scientist, Data Engineer, Database Architect, Business Intelligence Analyst, Predictive Modeling Analyst, and Data Integration Engineer. The employers hiring for them range from IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle to financial institutions, healthcare systems, and manufacturers building out the data infrastructure their industries now depend on.
Salary figures represent national median wages across all experience levels. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, May 2024. Figures do not reflect expected starting salaries.
Skills Employers Are Hiring For
Right Now.
IBM, Microsoft, Amazon, and Oracle hire data analytics engineering graduates for exactly the skills this program builds — from database design and data mining to predictive modeling and data visualization in Python, R, and SQL.
SQL & Database Design
Model, normalize, and query relational databases. Build the data foundations that analytics and applications depend on.
Data Visualization & Storytelling
Turn analysis into decisions. Build clear, interactive visualizations in Python, R, and Tableau that move stakeholders to act.
Predictive Modeling & Machine Learning
Apply statistical and ML methods to forecast outcomes, classify data, and build models that scale to real-world problems.
Data Mining & Wrangling
Clean, transform, and explore messy data at scale — uncovering the patterns and relationships that drive insight.
Programming in Python & R
Write production-quality code for data processing, analysis, and automation in the two languages the field runs on.
Statistical Analysis & Methods
Ground decisions in rigor — probability, inference, and experimental design that hold up under scrutiny.
Faculty Who Work in the
Industry They Teach.
"My research centers on the practical use of ML and NLP — with an emphasis on real-world applications in healthcare and the essential area of healthcare cybersecurity."
The Online DAE is taught by Northeastern University College of Engineering faculty — the same researchers and practitioners who teach the on-ground program. Your instructors aren't observing their fields. They're working in them.
Online DAE Curriculum:
11 Courses, You Take Eight.
The DAE is 32 credits — eight courses. You'll complete all five core courses (20 credits) and choose three electives from the six available (12 credits). If you enroll through the Fast App, you'll begin with the two pathway courses marked below — and every credit counts toward your degree from day one.
Step inside a Data Analytics
Engineering course.
Preview the program by learning something new. These are real lesson excerpts from the Data Analytics Engineering curriculum — the kind of applied, practitioner-led teaching you'll experience every week. Every course is built the same way: faculty with active industry practice, content that connects directly to the work you're already doing.
Why Northeastern Online DAE?
Here's What Makes It Different.
Apply to the Online DAE:
Two Paths In.
Both paths lead to the same Northeastern University degree. Choose based on your background and what matters most to you.
not the application.
Fast App deadline extended. Submit by August 17, 2026 to start Fall 2026.
This is a performance-based admissions pathway — your admission is earned by passing two actual DAE courses with a B or better, not by essays or test scores. Not sure if you're ready? See the Want to prepare first? section below.
Full admission before you begin.
The Fall 2026 Standard Application deadline has passed. See upcoming terms →
There are no prerequisites for the Fast App pathway, but a little prep helps. College of Engineering faculty hand-picked these Coursera courses to build your Python, linear algebra, and probability fundamentals before the pathway courses begin — a low-cost way to fill any gaps before you start.
Online DAE Frequently Asked
Questions. Answered.
A bachelor's degree in any field from an accredited or approved university. That's it. The Online DAE was designed for learners from any academic or professional background — no STEM prerequisites and no prior tech experience required. The Fast App pathway lets you demonstrate readiness directly through coursework.
Yes. Your diploma will read "Northeastern University, College of Engineering, Master of Science in Data Analytics Engineering." It will not reference "online" or "Coursera." Same faculty, same 32 credits, same Boston graduation ceremony, same employer recognition.
No. All learners are welcome to attempt the performance-based pathway courses, whether or not they have a technical background. If you'd like to brush up first, College of Engineering faculty have hand-picked a few optional prep courses on Coursera covering Python, linear algebra, and probability — see them in the Admissions section above.
The Online DAE is taught by the same College of Engineering faculty who teach on campus — researchers and practitioners with active experience in data analytics, engineering systems, and applied research. The classroom moved online. The standard came with it.
Approximately 10–15 hours per week per course. The program is 8 courses (32 credits) total. Full-time students can finish in as little as 18 months; part-time students typically take longer and can pause between terms without penalty.
List price is $24,600 ($3,075/course × 8), shown as from $23,124 with scholarship applied. Tuition is pay-as-you-go — charged per course at enrollment. Full details at Tuition & payment details →.
Federal financial aid is available for Standard App students from day one, and for Fast App students after completing their two pathway courses. Northeastern alumni may also qualify to save up to 25% through the Double Husky Scholarship.
Submit a short form. Enroll in two performance-based pathway courses (both count toward your degree). Earn a B or better in both and submit your official undergraduate transcripts by the time you complete them. That's your admission — no essays, no GRE, no application fee. You'll continue into the full degree program the next term, with those credits already done.
Yes, completely. The two Fast App pathway courses are actual DAE program courses. Once you complete both with a B or better and pay the necessary fees, those credits apply directly to your degree.
Yes. You can gain direct admission by applying through the standard graduate application at the College of Engineering. The Standard App is the right path if you need federal financial aid from day one or want your credentials evaluated before you begin. There is a $100 application fee for the standard application (the Fast App has none).
No. The online program does not confer F-1 visa eligibility. If you need an F-1-eligible option, the on-campus DAE program through the College of Engineering is the right fit.
Ready to learn more —
or ready to enroll?
Fill out the form and we'll send you the free Data Analytics Engineering Career Outlook Guide instantly. Salary data, top employers, and role breakdowns.